PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 92, 18 April 1913, Page 7

PERSONAL.

The Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence, Finance, and Education), who left ivondon yesterday, according to cable news, is due in Auckland from yaacouyer on June 3rd by the. Makura. Archdeacon Devoy, of Wellington, celebrated hie seventieth birthday on Wed» nesday, and was the recipient of many congratulations and presentation*. During the afternoon he wag eatertidned by the Wellington Catholic clergy. ~ :' Mr Maughan Barnett ws* presented with a £92 cheque at the Wellington. Choral Society's rehearsal la*t . night, the money being the proceeds of a «omplimentary concert. The president declared that Mr Barnett did yeoman service in creating a taste for good eolid music in .Wellington. • ...

Two very old identities of Coromandel passed away on Tuesday last in the persons of Mr Samuel Boyle, who died ■at the Coromandel hospital, .«ged 74, and Mr Win. Ryan, who passed *way at the restfence of his daughter, Mri Carlson, aged 84. Mr Ryan lad for,many years been afflicted with blindnew. - Mr. Hugh Fraeer, whose death ia America is announced, was one of the first runholders in the Mackenzie Conntry (says the; Timaru "Herald" ). He came out to Nelson in the 'fifties,* and with two others, McMurdo and Hodgkinson, came down and selected runs in 4;he Mackenzie, Mr. Praser;taking up/ 3Ben Oban,.and his friends Ben More.;... -They then fetched sheep all the .way from Nelson, fording or swimming all the rivers oit the way.

The Hon. W. E. Massey-.(Prime (Minister) .will leave Wellington on Tuesday next for the King Country, -where he will spend four or five. daya in inspecting settlement areas (including some of the ' special settlements) in his capacity as Minister for Agriculture. Afterwards •Mr. Massey will spend a few;-days in Auckland before returning -to 'Wellington. He expects to reach Auckland on April 28th, to participate in the welcome to the _Sfew Zealand. .__>/ A most enjoya:ble evening was spent :by members of the Karangahape Cricket Club at Messrs, Prior's Strand Cafe : bit Wednesday. In the course" of the proceedings, Mr. T. Beasley, on behalf of tha club's members, presented 'Mr. A. Moore, the" secretary! with a; very: ___ad_b_a« shield -containing photos of _h_ clu_> members. "Mr.-Moore' suitably responded, and the remainder of the evening wasdevoted to musical items. ..The gathering,, which was most ated on singing the '__at_.nil Anthem." The Rev. J. R. Wilford, .vicar of Prebbleton, has been appointed principal o'l College House, Christ's College, Christchurch, in .succession to Dean Carringt on, and will take up his .'duties in the next term. The Rev. J. Russell. Wilford has a good classical and theological training. 'He was educated at' Christ. 'College, Cambridge University, where 'hie "was Caius Greek 'Testament prizeman in 1897, and Ridout Theological' prizeman in the same year. He obtained his BA degree in 1898, with theological honour., aha hUBD. degree at. Trinity 'Coik>ge, ;Can_bridge, in 1908. He was ordained deacon at -VOTwich,Cathedral in 1900 and priest in 1901; He served a curacy-ait Denver, Norfolkj for four • years. Tie- was appointed vicar of Waikare.jh .1904, .an«l -Vicar of Prebbleton and Templeton in -1907-. He was elected in 1910 as a member of mnd examiner for the land Board of Theological Studiea, and . waS a member' of the Diocesan Mission An interesting: 'visitor to Auckland .alt the present time is Mr. John -H. Irving. It is just 77 years "ago since Mr. Irving first set eyes on the : straggling village which was destined; to become "rthe city; of to-day. .He arrived, 'in 'hi. father's barque, tbe Carnarvon. .After whaling round, the New Zealand coast for five yearsj tbe Irving", family.settl-d in.' the Bay of Islands. Mr. Irving <b__lt th« first.European- house erected" .on -he Waitangi, side of' Russell .Harbour,'.'. -and tells an interesting story ; of 'how .' the Maoris came down and, threatened: te throw the timber into :tbe..._*a, Th« famous Hone H_ke himself talked witW tbepakehas, and the situation was save', •when the fighting chief partook of' -ha family's* hospitality, and.slept, on tIK site of the .'house, which, .ras henceforth declared to be immune from .native inter* ference. Except for a brie, residence in Auckland in the __rly .'fifties. Mr. Irving has resided almost continually in th«f North. -He is now on a .visit .to v bi_ daughter, (Mrs. James Ingram, of "Gle_.smond," and, despite his 84 years, » exceedingly hale and hearty. His fan. ily numbered 13 children, 12 of whom ai* still .alive;. ', ' -.-;;;'" Council'in 1911. ',■;.■. :.'£.;. : N ;.":